Health reform plan a priority this session
Governor joined by Health for All Kansans Steering Committee

Health care costs are on the rise, access to quality care is down and Kansans are eager for change. That’s the message delivered today by Governor Kathleen Sebelius as she endorsed the Kansas Health Policy Authority’s health reform plan.

“Here in Kansas we’re working to open the doors of affordable and quality health care to every citizen, in every part of the state,” said Sebelius. “The Health for All Kansans Steering Committee met with advocates, stakeholders and consumers to craft this comprehensive plan. The legislature asked for an expert approach - this is it. I thank the legislature for getting serious about health reform; and for the opportunity to start that reform today.”

The governor was joined by members of the Health For All Kansans Steering Committee and Maynard Oliverius, president and CEO of Stormont-Vail HealthCare.

“Kansans want change in the way health care services are delivered,” Sebelius continued. “I challenge the legislature to seize this opportunity; increase access to affordable health insurance; address the underlying problems of rising costs and pass this plan in its entirety.”

The Kansas Health Policy Authority was formed by the Kansas Legislature in 2005. Their charge has been to create a plan that improves the quality, availability and affordability of the health care system. They shared their recommendations in November.

To learn more about the Kansas Health Policy Authority’s health care reform plan, visit www.khpa.ks.gov.

The 2008 Legislative session convenes on Monday, January 14th.

AARP
American Academy of Pediatrics, KS Chapter
American Heart Association
Arthritis Foundation, Kansas Chapter
Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners
Community Health Council of Wyandotte County
Community Health Assessment Process (CHAP)
Decatur Heath Systems, Inc
Dickinson County Health Department
Family Health Care Services
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Kansas Academy of Family Physicians
Kansas Advocates for Better Care
Kansas Area Agencies on Aging Association
Kansas Association of Local Health Departments
Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine
Kansas Association of the Medically Underserved
Kansas Cardiovascular Disease Adv. Council
Kansas State Stroke Task Force
Kansas Comprehensive Cancer Control Partnership
Kansas Faith Alliance for Health Reform
Kansas Foundation for Medical Care
Kansas Health Care for All
Kansas Health Consumer Coalition
Kansas Hospital Association
Kansas Kidney Coalition
Kansas Medical Society
Kansas Public Health Association
KU Medical Center
MidAmerica Coalition on Health
Oral Health Kansas
South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging
Stormont-Vail Health Care
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition
Unified Government Public Health Department
Via Christi Health System
Wichita Black Nurses Association
Wichita County Health Center
Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation
Wyandotte Safety Net Clinics Coalition
John Zutavern, Health Reform Advisory Council
Theola Cooper, Health Reform Advisory Council
Mitzi E. McFatrich, Kansas Advocates for Better Care
Linda J. De Coursey, American Heart Association
Lynn Doeden, Decature Health Systems, Inc.
Wendy Funk Schrag, Kansas Kidney Coalition
Lisa Benlon, Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition
Janis Goedeke/Elaine Schwartz, Kansas Public Health Association, Inc.
Teresa R. Schwab, Oral Health Kansas
William L. Bruning, Mid-America Coalition on Health Care
Linda Davies, Dickinson County Health Department
Sharon Lee, Family Health Care
Carolyn Gaughan, Kansas Academy of Family Physicians
Robert R. Williams, Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine
Patricia Hunter, Jabsas Association of Local Health Departments
Craig Kaberline, Meeting the Needs of Older Kansans
Kevin P. Conlin, Via Christi Health Systems
Peggy L. Johnson, Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation
Marjorie E. Holland, Individual on behalf of the Kansas Orthopedic Institute
Cathy Harding, Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
Vicki Hahn, Wichita County Health Center
Gary Doolittle/Peggy Johnson, Kansas Comprehensive Cancer Control Partnership
Charlie Porter/John Terry, Kansas Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program
Michael Mayberry, Community Health Council
Teresa Carter, Susan G. Komen for the Cure
David C. Goering, Kansas Health Care for All

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